Refrigerator construction



Apr. 17, 1923.

H. J. GWYER REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION 4 meets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22 Apr.E?, 1923.

H. J. GWYER REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22,1920 jpk. 17, 1923.v

, ,452,27 H. J. GWYER REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 22, 1920 4Sheets-Sheet 4.

2X //7 l h 4@ `Patented pr. 1 7, 1923.

FFICE.

HERBERT J. GWYER, or YoNKERs', NEW YORK.

REFRIGERATOR Application filed May 22,

To all whom it may ooncm:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. Gwynn, a

i citizen of.the 'United States of America, re-

siding at Ypnkers New York, have invented l a new and usefullefrigerator Construction,

'of which the following is a'specification.

My invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet construction.

lt is an object of my invention to provide a cabinet which can be vmadein knockdown parts, which may be easily aembled.

It is a further. object-of my invention to provide va knock-downVrefrigerator having but few parts which may be compactly andconveniently stored or shipped.

Other objects and advantages will appear I as the specificationproceeds.l

My invention in -its preferred form comprises front and back panel unitsand a top and a bottom panel unit, and two side panel units for spacingthe front and backpanel units apart. The top unit and bottom unit arepreferably duplicates of each other. The top unit and bottom unit eachhave a groove therein into which fit corner posts and ends of the sidepanels. Suitable means such as rods or bolts are provided for securingthe top and bottom panel units together to form a rigid cabinet. Thecabinet is suitably lined, the lining preferably conforming in shape andsize to the various panel units.

In the drawings, which show merely a preferred form of my invention-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator embodying the principlesof my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end sectionall view of my refri erator.

ig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one i of the top or bottom units.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary plan view of the refrigerator with the topremoved and one of the side panels being partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the frontcorner posts.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tie member for securingthe front posts together. v

' Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the backcorner posts.

Fig.' 8 is a fragmentary sectional view throughthe top and one sidepanel.

\ Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of one corl ner of aside panel, partofthe lining being broken away.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the top CONSTRUCTION.

1920. Serial No. 383,346.

4portion of one corner showing the means for securing the top and bottomtogether.

Fig. 1l is a similar view of the bottom corner, and also showing one legand a roller.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a top or bottom panel unit.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the front panel unit.

Fig. let is a similar view of the back panel unit.

Fig. 15is a similar view of one of the side panel-units.

In" said drawings, which show merely my preferred form, 5` designatesthe top panel unit as a whole. This top panel unit comprises a frame 6which may be made of bars mitred at the corners and secured together inany suitable manner. The members comprising the frame 6 may be made ofthe Same cross section as the corner posts. The grooves 22 in the frame6 may be lled with felt to effectively' seal the joints between the topand bottom and the co-operating panels. If desired the edge of the frame6 may be chamfered adjacent the panels to provide a finished appearance.The frame 6 which is similar for both the top and the bottom, may beprovided upon the inner side with grooves 7 8 and upon another side witha groove. Y9. In the grooves 7 and 8 are fitted panel boards 10-11 andbetween these panel boards there is providedlan insulating panel 12.-The panel 12 may be made of any suitable insulating material, such asfelt, and is preferably spaced from the panel boards 10-11 in order toprovide air spaces for insulating purposes. One of the side panel units,to be afterwards described, is. fitted in the groove 9 when the cabinetis assembled. It should be noted that the groove 9 is of the same shapeall around the top unit and the parts fitting into said groove aretherefore preferably of the same thickness.

The bottom panel unit is preferably made as a duplicate of the top unit,except perhaps that the top may have the edges rounded and inishedifdesired. f

The reference character 13 designates the front panel unit as a whole.This unit preferably comprises two corner posts 1.4-15 which may besecured together by means of the tie beam 16 suitably secured to thetops of the posts. A similar tie beam, 16

ma;v likewise be provided to secure the lower the post 17.

asp

the cabinet is assembled. In one of the other edges are provided twospaced grooves 19-20, leaving a tongue .'21 therebetween. A suitabledeep rooveor aperture 22 may be provided longitudinally of the posts. A.

l'projection 23 projects above the endA of the `post proper for a reasonto be later described.

All of the posts are of the same cross section,.and the ,foregoingdescription of one,

willftherefore, sufiice tor all. 0n the back 2 postQhowever, theprojection 23 projecting above the endofA the post proper, "-is wider,than the projections 23 on nthe front post.

ln assembling the front panel unit, the beam 16 is placed on the topends of the 2 5 front posts and is secured thereto as by means ot screwspassing through holes such as 24, .and into holes such as 25 in theposts. The beam 16 is preferably cut out on one side, as shown lat 26,and the thickness of the remaining portion 27 is substantially equal tothe height of the projection 23. ft similar tie beam 16 secures thebottoms of the 'front posts together. :The supporting post lis valsosecured to the ties in any suitable manner, as `by means of screws.

A U-shaped or channeled abutment member 28 fits in the grooves 19-20 andover the tongue 21. This abutment projects out a short distancebeyondthe posts and may act as an abutment for aldoor. With doors as shown inthe drawings, an abutment member such as. described will be providedupon each of the frontcorner posts. The support-` ing post 17 may alsobelprovidedwith abutments such as' 29 forming abut-ments for theopposite sides of the doors. rlhese abut` ments 29 may be formed in anysuitable manner, as by means of rabbeting the edge of The back panelunit vmay be made up of the two corner posts and cross-beams as 29lfitting therebetween. The'cross-beams 29 are grooved on the ends to fitover the tongues 21 on the corner posts as shown in a unit with thefront and the two back posts are likewise rigidly connected together andform with the anel unit. j

Each side panel unit comprises a frame panel boaldds a complete back anut is secure lsuch as 30, and each side panel may be provided withpanel boards and insulation similar to that hereinbefore describedv forthe top. As shown in Fig.. 8, the .frame for the side panel unit israbbeted at both edges 31,

and upon one of these rabbeted edges isV formed a tongue 32 over whichfitsa groove in one of the panel boards 33. v.llhe other panel board maysimply rest against the Vother'rabbeted edge of the frame. securingdevice such as 3ft' shown inhig. 9 may be provided for securing themitered ends ot' the fra-me together and also holding the panel board inthe trame. This securing device is preferably in the form ot a discwith1 downwardly projecting prongs or teeth which may be driven intotheframe. 'lt-he i Aprovided beneath the bottom panel unit.

Each leg will preferably have an aperture therethrough, and each top andbottomv anel unit will likewise have apertures t erethrough in alinementwith the deepslot or aperture 22 in each 'corner post and the aperturein the leg.

Suitable rollers such as 37 may be provided beneath each leg. The rollershown is mounted-upon a plate 38 secured to the bottom of the leg. A tiebolt or rod 39 passes down the le to the bottom end and thereon. rlheplate 38 coming, as it does,in close proximity to the nut, will preventthe latter rombacking od j from the rod.

When the front unit, back unit, side units and top and bottom units haveeach been individually assembled, the cabinet may `then be assembled.The bottom unit, whichis preferably a duplicate of the top unit, isfirst placed on the floor with the groove, such as 9, on top. The backpanel unit may then be wplaced in one of the grooves in the bottom, theback panel unit and the projections on the fend posts all tting withinthe groove.

The front panel unit may then be placed in the opposite groove,theprojections on the front posts and lower tie member all fittingywithin the groove. rlhe side panel units may' then be slid into thegrooves-such as 18 in the front and back posts and forced downwardlyuntil the lower ends engage in the groove in the bottom unit. The topunit 'may then be placed upon the top of the thus far assembled parts.The groove in the'underside of the top will then fit over theprojections on each of the corner' posts as well as over the sidepanels, back panel beam and f front tie member. rlhe rods 39 may then.be passed through the apertures in the top member, corner posts, bottomunit and legs (if 'legs' arek provided). -f'llheg-upper end of the rod39 may be provided with a head 41 which may `conveniently rest upon acorner fastening device such as 42. The nut 40 is next screwed on thelower end of the rod and the top and bottom members drawn toward eachother to secure the parts together and form a rigid cabinet.

The inside of the cabinet may, of course, be lined lwith any suitablematerial. The lining may be 'made in sections which conform in shape tothe variousunits. A separate lining strip is preferably provided overthe triangular projection on each corner post and each top and bottomframe, in order to give a smooth interior.`fi'ii`i"sh'."""

Between the post'l' and the back panel, I prefer to provide' a.partition 43 which is preferably spaced from the top and bottom. Thesupporting shelf for the ice is indicated in Fig. 2 by the referencecharacter 44. The

lcirculation of ai'rin the refrigerator will be downward from the iceshelf, around beneath the partition, and then up and over the topof thepartition back to the ice chest.

Any suitable pipe such as may be provided for draining the melted icefrom the refrigerator.

It will thus be seen that I have provided `afknock-down refrigeratorwhich may be very readily assembled by unskilled labor. In the preferredform there are only six separate parts of the cabinet to vbe stored forshipment.

i p made all falling said top and bottom units said sides and the endsof said posts, Aone of for enclosing the side spaces lbetween the saidunits having a groove for receiving said tie' beam, and rods passinglongitudinally "of said corner posts .and engaging said top and bottomunits foi-'drawing the latter togetherM and securing .all of saidl partstogetherin cabinet formation.

QIIn a refrigerator construction, four corner posts, side-membersbetween said posts posts, a top unit and a bottom unit each fitting overthe endsof said posts and side a relatively .and engaging said top andmembers. each of said posts having a relatively wide groove in one sidefor receivingl one of said sides,

narrow groove in the. bottom of said relatively wide groove, 'and rodspassing through said relatively narrow grooves va top unit and a bottomunit for eng on another side and a bottom unit, four cornerveach'of-said posts having bottom units for drawing the lattertogetherand securing all the parts together in cabinet formation.

3. In a cabinet construction, a back panel unit including corner posts,said posts being of duplicate cross section and each having in one sideaA relatively shallow wide groove and a relatively deep narrow groove,said posts each having at another side two spaced apart grooves leavinga tongue between them', Vtop and bottom -cross beams having projectionsfixed in said grooves and panels proper fitting in the space betweensaid posts and cross beams, a front panel unit including two posts`.which are of the same cross abutment member fitting over the tongue onone of said front posts and substantially filling that part of thegrooves adjacent thereto and forming a jamb for a door, side vpanelunits fitting in the grooves in said front and back posts for spacingthe front and back units apa-rt. and

gin said'posts, and panel un' ,g or -securinilg th latter together toforma cabinet structurel A4. In a cabinet construction, four cornerposts, each post having av relatively shallow groove onone side, twospaced apart grooves a relatively narrow deep a pair of section as theback posts, a channeled shallow groove extending into each post lfromone if' of said sides, panels engaged in some 0f Said grooves forclosing the spaces between some of said posts to form a cabinet, a doorextending from one of said posts landclosing a part of the space betweentwo of said posts, a top member and a bottom member each including aframe fittingover the ends of said posts and a rod extending from thetop through said relatively narrow deep groove in each post to thebottom member for securing the parts togethef to form a cabinet.

5. A structure such as claimed in claim 4, 'said corner posts and theframe members of said top and bottom members being of substantiallyduplicate cross section.

6.1m a device of the character described.

a panel member comprising a frame, a panel in sald frame, fastenlngdevices for securlng sald frame prising a flat metal plate having prongsat an angle ythereto extending into the frame,

said flat plate overlapping .the inside of said frame and engaging theside of said panel for holding said panel in place against Vlateraldislodgment.

together at the corners com-.

7. In a. cabinet construction, a back panel V unit comprising cornermember secured to said unit; side panel units and backpanel units, saidfront panel unit includinar corner posts and an intermediate post, tiebeams securingsaid corner posts and intermediate post rtogether at thetop and bottom. a-top having a groove in the under side fitting oversaid corner posts and posts and a panel posts, a front panel engagingdsaid; front u I Maasai ;l one et said tie beams and over said back andside panels tor securing the topsy of said parts together, 'a bottommember having a groove therein fitting over said corner posts, saidvother tie member and back and Side lpanels, for securing the bottoms ofsaid partsto ;ether and arod passing through said posts and securingmembers together. Y

8. In a cabinet construction, front, back and side panels, corner postsengaging said panels, top and bottom members having said tOp and bottomgrooves therein into which fit the corner posts and panels, forsecuring'the posts and panels together, rods passing through said top`and bottom members and said posts, a nut on each of said rods fordranzvingl the top and bottom members toward each other and platesadapted to support a roller and prevent said nutsA1 from backing od.

9. ln a cabinet construction, front, back and side panels, corner postsengaging said panels, top and bottom members having grooves therein intowhich lit the' corner posts and panels, for securing the posts and Ypanels together, rods passing through said top and bottom members andsaid posts'ior securing the members together to forni a cabinet, eachkof said panels andtop and bottom-members including two spaced apartpanel boards and a panel of insulat ing material between said panelboards and spaced therefrom.

l0. ln a cabinet construction, including folr side units, two oppositeside units each including two corner posts, cross beams at .of said side.units having a door opening and a door for closingl said opening, androds at the corners extending longitudinally of the corner posts andengaging the top and bottom members for holding-.the latter to the sideunits whereby the top, bottom and side units form a rigid cabinet.

11, ln a cabinet construction, a back panel unit comprising corner postsand a panel member secured to said posts, a front panel unit, side`panel units engagi said front and back panel units, said front vpanelunit including corner posts and an intermediate post, tie lbeamssecuring said front corner posts together at the top and bottom, a, topunit anda bottom unit ttlng over the ends of said panel units, said topand bottom units having interitting tongue and groove connections withsaid tie beams, back and side panel units, and a rod-passing througheach of said corner posts and engaging said topand bottom unitsy for securing said top and bottom units together in cabinet formation. HERBERTJ. GWYER.

wherebv all the units will be held together

